World 🢖 Asia 🢖 Indonesia 🢖 West Papua

Sinkholes 🢔 Caves 🢔 Geological wonders 🢔 Categories of wonders

Wonder

Hafasu Tiankeng

WorldBlue  In short

Part of the enormous Aouk Underground River is a giant sinkhole – Hafasu Tiankeng.

4 out of 10 stars 40.3%

GPS coordinates
0.9558 S 132.3303 E
Location, address
Asia, Indonesia, Western New Guinea, southern part of Tambrauw Regency, Aouk Underground River
Alternate name
Hafasù Tiankeng
Depth
Approximately 100 m
Volume
12 – 15 million m³

Map of the site

Travelers' Map is loading...
If you see this after your page is loaded completely, leafletJS files are missing.

WorldYellow In detail

Hafasu Tiankeng formed when the ceiling of a cave above the Aouk Underground River collapsed. Later river found a new course – also under the ground – further to the north and Hafasu Tiankeng now is not traversed by the river anymore. Two passages lead to the Aouk Underground River from Hafasu Tiankeng – Wor’n Su towards the north-west and Bocca del Mostro (the monster’s mouth) – towards the north-east.

Hafasu Tiankeng is some 800 m long and some 250 m wide, its walls are some 100 m high. Area of the sinkhole is approximately 142,000 m2, volume – approximately 12 – 15 million m3.

Its size exceeds 100 m and also the depth exceeds 100 m – thus this sinkhole can be considered to be a true tiankeng.

Nearby are two more giant sinkholes: Kuom Tiankeng and Keek sinkhole.

References
  1. Papua 2017 Aouk Underground River – Acheloos Geo Exploring, Petzl. Accessed in 14 January, 2019
  2. Andrea Benassi e Ivan Vicenzi, Papua 2017 Aouk Underground River – Acheloos Geo Exploring, cronache ipogee. Accessed in 16 January, 2019
  3. Il Tiankeng dell’Aouk, Speleologia Casolana. Accessed in 16 January, 2019
  4. Graham Mullan, News: Exploring Large River Caves in West Papua, Darkness Below. Accessed in 16 January, 2019

WorldYellow Linked articles

Bagan, Burma
Bagan / Nicholas Kenrick, / CC BY 2.0

Wonders of Asia

Any other continent (and part of the world) seems small if compared to Asia. This refers also to natural and man-made heritage: in Asia are not just thousands of great landmarks, there are found landmarks created by thousands of diverse cultures from ancient Phoenicians to the mysterious small people in the Philippines and eastern islands of Indonesia.

Great Blue Hole, Belize
Great Blue Hole / Eric Pheterson, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Sinkholes

This category includes outstanding sinkholes – large natural depressions or holes, which for most the part represent collapsed caves.

Mount Bromo with a white plume and Mount Batok in the forefront
Mount Bromo with a white plume and Mount Batok in the forefront./ Alif Rahman, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Wonders of Indonesia

Indonesia is a true land of wonders. There are few other countries in the world that can offer a similar array of diverse, unique, and beautiful natural and cultural monuments.

WorldYellow Recommended books

Caves


Bit by bit, over thousands or even millions of years, water carves and shapes rock into designs only nature could create. Deep in limestone or under a few feet of hardened lava, on an ocean coast or a sandstone cliff, a cave is a mysterious and fascinating place.

Indonesian New Guinea Adventure Guide: WEST PAPUA / IRIAN JAYA


In one of the last untamed places on Earth, Indonesian New Guinea’s snowcapped peaks tower above steaming rainforests, and huge crocodiles stalk in thick mangroves ringing the island. Whether you lounge on the white beaches of Biak, or trek around Wamena, Indonesian New Guinea offers the adventure of a lifetime.


0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments